Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated dramatically following the deadly Pahalgam attack in Kashmir and the subsequent launch of "Operation Sindoor" by the Indian Armed Forces. This operation, which targeted what India described as terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir, has been met with strong condemnation and vows of retaliation from Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
The catalyst for this recent surge in hostilities was the April 22, 2025, attack in Pahalgam, where militants killed 26 civilians, mostly Indian tourists. The attack, claimed initially by The Resistance Front (TRF), believed to be a proxy for the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, was widely condemned internationally. India has directly blamed Pakistan for backing the attack, a charge Islamabad vehemently denies.
In response to the Pahalgam attack, the Indian military launched Operation Sindoor in the early hours of May 7, 2025. The operation involved precision missile strikes on nine sites that India identified as terrorist infrastructure. According to Indian officials, these sites were used for planning and directing terrorist attacks against India. The strikes were described as "focused, measured, and non-escalatory," with assurances that no Pakistani military facilities were targeted.
Pakistan, however, has presented a different narrative, stating that the Indian strikes hit civilian areas, including mosques, resulting in the deaths of at least 26 people, including women and children. Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, spokesperson for the Pakistan Armed Forces, described the Indian strikes as an "unprovoked attack, targeting innocent people". Pakistan also claimed to have shot down five Indian fighter jets in retaliation, a claim India has not yet responded to.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has strongly condemned the Indian action, calling it a "grave mistake" and a "cowardly attack". In a televised address to the nation, Sharif stated that Pakistan has the right to respond and will retaliate at a time and place of its choosing. "Pakistan will take revenge. We will take this war to the end," he declared. Sharif also said, "India made a strategic miscalculation last night, and it will pay the price for its error". He vowed that "every drop of the martyrs' blood will be avenged".
The international community has expressed concern over the escalating tensions. The U.S. diplomatic mission in Pakistan issued a security alert, and countries like Belarus and Ukraine have called for restraint and de-escalation. Former U.S. President Donald Trump described the situation as "a shame".
The implications of Operation Sindoor and Pakistan's vowed retaliation are far-reaching. The already fragile relationship between the two nuclear-armed neighbors has been further strained, with diplomatic channels frozen and the risk of further military escalation looming. The situation has the potential to destabilize the entire South Asian region, impacting economies, societies, and regional security.
In the wake of these events, several airlines, including Air India and Air India Express, have offered full refunds and free rescheduling for defense personnel. India has also shut down approximately 25 flight routes used for aircraft entering Pakistan through Indian airspace.
